Travel guide Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna : The best time to go
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Emilia-Romagna : Practical information for travel
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Edition 2025/2026
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Emilia-Romagna : Where to go?
The most beautiful tourist sites
Emilia-Romagna : Other destinations
Emilia-Romagna : Petit Futé's best addresses
Discover the most beautiful addresses selected by the authors of Petit Futé.
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Emilia-Romagna : Featured articles
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Emilia-Romagna : How do I travel?
How to go alone
Are you looking for authenticity and the chance to meet new people? Then a solo road trip in Emilia-Romagna is the perfect adventure for you! Travelling alone gives you absolute freedom, so you can adapt your itinerary to suit your mood. Start in lively cities like Bologna, where you can wander the narrow streets, savor the local cuisine in traditional trattorias and chat with the locals. Public transport is reliable and well organized. They make it easy to get between towns and places of interest. For a more immersive experience, consider renting a bike or hiking through the lush countryside. Don't forget to take along a good Emilia-Romagna tourist guide, learn a few basic Italian words and always keep an open mind. The region is full of surprises just waiting to be discovered by intrepid travelers. Via all'avventura!
How to go on a tour
Emilia-Romagna, with its historic cities, unrivalled gastronomy and breathtaking scenery, is a prime destination for a package tour. Want to let go and explore without the stress of planning? Tour operators offer a variety of options to suit every type of traveler. From gastronomic tours in Bologna to cultural escapades in Parma or Modena, the possibilities are vast. What's more, an organized tour often offers privileged access to sites or experiences off the beaten track, all accompanied by an expert local guide. It's an opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture, while enjoying the comfort and security of an organized tour. Before you book, check out the reviews and choose an organizer recognized for its expertise in the region.
How to get around
Emilia-Romagna has a well-developed transport network, making it easy and flexible to get around. The Trenitalia railroad line serves key cities such as Bologna, Parma, Modena and Rimini. In Bologna, the central station serves as a hub for regional routes. If you're planning to visit picturesque villages like Dozza or Brisighella, renting a car is preferable. The roads are well-maintained and clearly signposted. For short trips into town, the bus network is reliable. In Ferrara, for example, buses are frequent and cover the whole city. And for an authentic touch, rent a bike in Ravenna: the city is flat and has many cycle paths. Finally, take a stroll through the pedestrian zones, as in Parma's historic center, where a walk is the best way to discover its hidden charms. A presto!
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Emilia-Romagna : Travel
Ideas for holidays and week-end breaks Emilia-Romagna
Que vous soyez un arpenteur chevronné des villes, un amoureux de la nature, un épicurien intéressé par la bonne chère et le farniente, un amateur de belles cylindrées, ou bien tout cela à la fois, les possibilités ne manquent pas en Émilie-Romagne. Les villes de la région se caractérisent par leur atmosphère tranquille, l’animation n’y est jamais survoltée. Elles possèdent de beaux monuments et des musées aux riches collections. Les campagnes sont très agréables à parcourir, en particulier la région des collines qui longe la chaîne des Apennins et qui regorge de bourgs médiévaux et de châteaux. Sur la côte, aires naturelles protégées et longues plages de sable se partagent le décor. On ne peut passer sous silence le patrimoine gastronomique de l’Émilie-Romagne, qui justifierait à lui seul le voyage : agritourismes, restaurants et petits producteurs ouvrent leurs portes au grand bonheur de nos papilles et notre estomac !
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Emilia-Romagna : Discover
First and foremost, Emilia-Romagna attracts visitors to its famous cities: Bologna, with its porticoes and high medieval towers, but also its arts and crafts fairs; Parma, the city of gastronomy; Modena, with its balsamic vinegar and Ferrari and Lamborghini racing cars; Ravenna and its mosaics; Rimini, with its beaches and discos... These historic cities and seaside resorts cannot overshadow the region's overall heritage. An unsuspected wealth which, unfortunately, was put to the test in May 2023, following the devastating floods. Historic floods and landslides claimed fourteen lives. It's a resilient region, and all the more reason to open its doors to you. Let's take a tour of the region's varied landscapes, rich history and culinary specialties that go beyond the famous Parmesan cheese, Parma ham and balsamic vinegar!
Emilia-Romagna : The 12 keywords
#Balsamic
In Emilia Romagna, balsamic vinegar is grown like wine, that is, with great care. Around Modena and Reggio Emilia, the production of traditional balsamic is strictly controlled. It is made from cooked grape must and aged in wooden barrels for at least twelve years, a true luxury product!
#Charterhouse of Parma
Many writers have been fascinated by Italy. This was the case of Stendhal who, after a trip, wrote his book The Charterhouse of Parma, for which he was inspired by the Charterhouse of Paradigna near Parma, built in the 14th century by Benedictines. Since 2007, it has belonged to the University of Parma and houses a research center.
#Castles
From the province of Piacenza to the shores of the Adriatic, the territory is dotted with castles, either on the plain or balanced on the top of a rocky spur. Of medieval origin, with their towers and battlements, these castles have often been refurbished since the Renaissance into noble residences with elegant rooms decorated with frescoes.
#Earthenware
The term derives from Faenza, a town in Emilia-Romagna, in the province of Ravenna at the foot of the Apennines. In the 15th century, Faenza became a center for ceramic manufacturing. The name "faience", derived from Faenza and referring to the glazed terracotta produced there, spread throughout Europe from the 16th century onwards.
#Federico Fellini
If Rimini is first and foremost synonymous with the beach, the city is also the birthplace of the great filmmaker Federico Fellini. It was the setting for several of his films, including Amarcord and I Vitelloni. Whimsical and offbeat, with a critical eye on Italian society, Federico Fellini won the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival in 1960 with La Dolce Vita.
#Motor Valley
The most important Italian car manufacturers originate from the region: Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and Ducati were all born along the Via Emilia. The "Motor Valley" or Land of the Motors gathers on its territory museums dedicated to these giants of the automobile and circuits of international renown such as that of Imola.
#Parmigiano reggiano
Better known as Parmesan in France, but not to be confused with Grana Padano, which also belongs to the family of pressed cooked cheeses, but which is produced over a larger area, is ripened for a shorter time and is reputed to be less gastronomic. A good Parmigiano is a delight in shavings with a few drops of balsamic.
#Portics
Bologna has 40 km of porticos and it is possible to walk along eight of them without ever deviating from the route. The portici give the city a certain elegance and are not limited to Bologna: even the streets of secondary municipalities are equipped with them. Created to save space on the public highway, they protect from the sun and bad weather.
#Prosciutto di Parma
Emilia-Romagna is famous for its pork meat and the king of cured meats is Parma ham, made in the hills near Parma and taking advantage of the air currents coming down from the Apennines that intervene in the curing process. To be enjoyed with fried gnocchi (fried bread dough)!
#Ragù
Don't you dare order a "Bolognese sauce" in a restaurant, it annoys the people of Bologna. The term ragù is used to refer to this famous sauce. In France, ragù is a mixture of meat and vegetables cooked over low heat. In Italy, it is a sauce made of meat and tomato sauce that accompanies pasta.
#University
The University of Bologna is the oldest in Europe. Founded in 1088, it has shaped the city and still today it sums up the soul of the city. In via Zamboni is the heart of the university. Its motto Petrus ubique pater legum Bononia mater means "Saint Peter is everywhere the father of laws, Bologna is the mother".
#Verdi
The composer was a child of Parma, and more precisely of Roncole, a hamlet in the province. With his 26 operas, Verdi established himself during his lifetime as the greatest Italian musician of his time. Today, an itinerary allows us to follow in his footsteps, from his birthplace in Roconle to Bussetto, where he spent most of his life.
You are from here, if...
On a rainy day, you know the route that will allow you to cross the city of Bologna while staying dry, protected from the porticos. Ataperitivo time, you take care of your outfit to meet friends and colleagues around a lambrusco. Becauseaperitivo at the end of the day is a moment of relaxation, but always with a certain class!
As aRomanian , you speak Italian with a slight lisp - which may make your Emilian neighbor smile.
You regularly complain about the high humidity of the region. That's right, the Padana plain is humid and is regularly shrouded in thick fog!
Your first meal of the year is a dish of lentils with cotechino. This specialty of Modena is eaten on New Year's Eve.
You keep the bottle of traditional family-produced balsamicunder lock and key or hidden in the back of a cupboard to prevent the children from drinking it on the sly.
You make most of your short trips by bicycle.
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